“Moses and Aaron emerged from Pharaoh; and Moses cried to the Lord regarding the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” (Exodus 8:8). “Moses…emerged…and…cried to the Lord regarding the frogs” – our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: It was not just the destruction that the frogs caused the Egyptians, but the sound of the frogs was harsher for them than the physical damage, as they would enter their bodies and scream inside them, as it is stated: “Regarding [al devar] the frogs that He had brought upon Pharaoh” – regarding the speech [al dibur] of the frogs.
“The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died from the houses, from the courts, and from the fields” (Exodus 8:9). “The Lord did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died” – it is because [the Egyptians] could derive no benefit from their carcasses or their skin; that is why they died.14This is in contrast to the wild animals and the locusts, which departed from Egypt (see Exodus 8:27 and 10:19) so that the Egyptians would not benefit from the hides of the animals or be able to eat the locusts.
“They gathered them in heaps; and the land stank” (Exodus 8:10). “They gathered them in heaps” – this teaches that each and every one of them made four piles, and the land reeked. Because Israel reeked from the blows administered by the Egyptians, it is measure for measure. “Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and did not heed them; as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 8:11).
“Pharaoh saw that there was respite” – this is the way of the wicked; when they are in trouble they scream, but when there is respite they return to their evil ways. “As the Lord had spoken” – where did He speak? “I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go” (Exodus 3:19).